89.9 FM Live From The University Of New Mexico
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Better Bikeways = Safer Roads For All

https://www.nickferenchak.com/

Cities that work to create safe roads for bicyclists, by providing bike lanes, wind up making those roads safer for everyone.  That's according to just-published research into twelve bike-heavy American cities, including Memphis, Austin, Seattle and Oklahoma City.  The co-author of the study is a researcher at the University of New Mexico, Nick Ferenchak, an assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering.  

Previous research has shown that lots of bicyclists on the road make safer roadways.  Why?  "We found that the most important factor was  . . .  the built environment.  Cities with a lot of bicyclists seem to be building their cities diferently -- separated, protected bicycle facilities," says Nick.  "So if a city has [these] facilities, they're going to have more bicyclists.  And not only are those bicyclists going to be safer, but also drivers are going to be safer  . . .  and walkers as well."

"Just taking an unsafe road and putting a sign that says, 'Share the Road,' that doesn't give a bicyclist any safe space," says Nick, in this longer version of the interview.  "I would lean against using signage.  To be safe, bicyclists need a space of their own, where they're not threatened by moving motor vehicles."  Nick also comments on how his findings might improve the safety of Albuquerque's roads.

nick_ferenchak_interview_long_version_final.mp3

Spencer Beckwith reports on the arts for KUNM. For ten years, until March of 2014, Spencer was the producer and host of KUNM's "Performance New Mexico," a weekday morning arts program that included interviews with musicians, writers and performers. Spencer is a graduate of the acting program at the Juilliard School, and, before moving to New Mexico in 2002, was for many years a professional actor based in New York City.
Related Content